How to Grow Bleeding Heart Vine? Flowering Time and Care Methods Explained

Bleeding heart vine (Clerodendrum thomsoniae) is a tropical climbing small shrub native to Africa. Because it is often used for religious purposes abroad, it is also called the “fate tree”. Its flowers are very unique, looking just like a swimming dragon spitting out pearls, and it is deeply loved by flower enthusiasts. So as a beginner, how should you grow bleeding heart vine? When will it bloom after planting? How many times can it bloom in a year?

1. How to grow bleeding heart vine so it grows well?

1. Soil requirements

To grow bleeding heart vine, you must prepare relatively loose and breathable soil. Sandy loam is very suitable. Of course, you can also mix it yourself with coarse sand and peat soil. Good drainage is necessary to avoid water accumulation that causes plant health problems.

2. Temperature requirements

Since bleeding heart vine is itself a tropical plant, although it can already be introduced and grown in temperate zones, temperature control is still very necessary.

If you want bleeding heart vine to grow well, control its growing temperature between 15-15 degrees Celsius. In winter, at least around 10 degrees Celsius should be maintained as the growing temperature, while in summer it should be kept below 30 degrees Celsius.

3. Water requirements

Overall, bleeding heart vine does not have high water requirements. Keeping the soil slightly moist is enough. Bleeding heart vine is drought-tolerant but not waterlogging-tolerant, so do not water too much each time, to avoid yellow leaves, leaf drop, and root rot.

Especially in winter, watering should be reduced even more to let it enter natural winter dormancy.

4. Light requirements

When growing bleeding heart vine, moderate light is enough. Avoid long periods of exposure to strong sun or placement in a dark location. In summer, shade it, and in winter, during long rainy and overcast weather, you can supplement light appropriately.

2. When does bleeding heart vine bloom? How many times a year?

In fact, as long as it is cared for properly, bleeding heart vine can bloom up to 2-3 times a year, but most growers get only 1 blooming. Each blooming can last about 3 months, which shows that the flowering period of bleeding heart vine is relatively long.

Bleeding heart vine can be grown either from seed or from cuttings. Choosing different methods also leads to differences in flowering time.

1. Growing from seed

Growing from seed is generally done in March-April each year. If cared for properly, it usually blooms for the first time around the Dragon Boat Festival of the following year, and may also bloom around the Mid-Autumn Festival afterward, though this depends on the variety and daily care.

2. Growing from cuttings

The time for growing from cuttings is usually May-June each year, and it generally blooms around April of the following year.

Warm reminder: Bleeding heart vine is a climbing small shrub, so during the growing process it is best to set up some netting or a flower trellis around it. It can generally grow to about 2-3 m, but if grown indoors and you do not want it to take up space, you can prune it appropriately.